Insurance Media Award launched

The Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) and New Zealand
Journalists Training Organisation (NZJTO) have joined forces
to launch an annual media award aimed at promoting a better
understanding of general insurance.

The aim of the
$5000 award programme is to recognise excellence in coverage
of insurance issues as part of an effort to improve
insurance-related financial literacy and understanding of
the role insurance plays in protecting individuals and
businesses.

Chief Executive of the Insurance Council
Tim Grafton says the general insurance industry plays a
critical function in safeguarding New Zealand by protecting
over $0.5 trillion of New Zealanders’ assets.

“The media play an important role in helping shape
public understanding of insurance products and services, as
well as the industry’s contribution to the economy and
society as a whole,” he says. “This award will
recognise journalists who have demonstrated excellence in
their coverage of often very complex insurance
issues.”

“We’re delighted to be partnering
with the NZJTO in offering this award and welcome the Young
Enterprise Trust (YET) for their expertise in financial
literacy as part of the judging panel,” says Grafton.

Mike Fletcher, Executive Director of the NZJTO, welcomes
the decision to set up the award.

“The award will
encourage journalists to write about an industry that is
such an important part of everyday life,” he says.

Chief Executive of the Young Enterprise Trust Terry
Shubkin says financial literacy is a critical life skill for
all New Zealanders.

“Part of being financially
literate is being informed on key topics and the media plays
a key role in educating the general public,” she says.

“It is important that financial literacy topics such
as insurance are covered by the media and therefore we are
delighted to support the Excellence in Insurance Journalism
Award,” says Shubkin.

The award is open to all
journalists who have published or broadcast stories on
insurance-related topics between 1 April 2013 to 31 March
2014, including student journalists, commentators and
educators.

The inaugural award will offer two cash
prizes, $4000 for the overall winner and a highly commended
prize of $1000.

The closing date for nominations and
entries is 30 April 2014 with the winner being announced in
July 2014.

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